Automaton



C. L. MACK.

AU TOMATON. APPLICATION FILED DEC- 15. I920- 1,41 0,408. Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

2 SHETS-SHEET 1.

L- MACK.

AUTOMATON.

AAAAAAAA ION FILED DEC. 151 I920.

1 ,41O,408, Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cimatns L. MACK, or onrcaso, rumors.

AUTOMATON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed December 15, 1920. Serial No. 430,835.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLES L- MACK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatons and covers particularly an improved construction, arrangement and operation for moving 7 the head and its various parts as'for example, the jaws, lips, eyes, in order to pro: duce any desired combination or sequence of expression and action.

On the accompanying sheets of drawing the various features of my invention are clearly illustrated. On these drawings- 1 is a front elevational View of the head, together with the body frame work and cam driving mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, parts being shown in section, 1

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of part of the head showing the lips in a different .tion 11, preferably carved out of wood. The

neck section 12 forms part of the rear part 11 and projects between the arms 13 and 1% extending from the part 10, these arms together with the section 12 forming the neck; In the section 12 is the opening 15 for the passage of pull strings which will be described later. In the front part 10 and above the neck section12 is the opening 16 in which the lower jaw or chin section 17 is adapted to play vertically. The front part 10 and the back part 11 are detachably connected together in any suitable manner as for example, by means of'screws 18. r

The lower jaw frame 17 carries at its rear end the hingemember 19 by means of which it is hinged on the rod 20 secured on the front part 10 as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and x. A tension spring 21 connects between the jaw frame and the hook 22 and tends to hold the frame in its upper position to keep the mouth closed. Secured to the lower end of the jaw frame is the cord 23 which extends through the opening 15 and over the bearing bar 2 1 to be connected with cam levers to be presently described. Downward pull on the cord 23 causes the jaw frame to be swung downwardly to represent opening of, the mouth.

The upper jaw section 25 is carved to representteeth 26and above and in front of these teeth is placed the flexible and movable 11p part 27. The lip isformed of a piece of leather 'orother membraneous material andis reenforced along its lower edge by the sem1-c1rcular band 28 which may be of metal and which, as shown, forms the front part of a frame 29 pivoted at 29 on the part 10 at the corners of the mouth. A spring 30 connects between the rear end of the frame 29 and the top of the head part 10 and tends to hold the reenforced edge of the lip down in front of teeth 26 and with the upper lip section stretched. A cord 31 is secured to the rear en'dof thelip frame 29 by means of the eye 32 and this cord also extends through the opening 15 and over the bearing bar 24 to the cam lever mechanism which will be detation of the frame to raise the supporting part 28 to thereby fold and raise the lip into laughingposition and to expose the teeth. Upon release of thecord the spring 80 will return the frame 29 and the lip to its normal position. A snubbing cord 32 connects between'the headpart 10 and the eyelet 32 and limits the action ofthe spring 30 in returning the frame 29 to normal position thus preventing injury or overstretch of the lip membrane.

Provisionis also made for rotating one of theeyes to imitate winking. As shown the right eye ball 33 is pivoted in its socket 34 to rotate on its horizontal axis 35. A screw eye 36 extending from theeye ball is con nected by spring 87 with the lower part-of the head frame 10 and tends to hold the eye ball with its pupil 38 in normal position scribed later. Pull on the cord will cause rowithin the eye opening 89 in the head part fl 10. A cord 40 extends from the screw eye and around a pulley a1 at the upper part of the head frame 10, the cord then passing down through the opening 15 in the head part 11 and over the bearing bar as. When said cord is pulled the eye ball will be rotated to carry its pupil 38 out of sight below the eye opening 39, thus imitating winking.

A tip or socket 42 is secured to the roof of the month just behind the teeth so as not to interfere with the operation of the lower jaw 17. This tip or socket serves for the reception of a cigarette, cigar or pipe which will extend outwardly therefrom between the jaws. A tube 43 extends from the tip through the interior of the head and out through the opening15 and connects with a bulb 43;

The neck section 12 has the transversely extending slot 44. receiving the upper end of a post. 45, a pivotpin 45 extending through thevpost and the neck section pivotally supporting the head structure on the post so that it may swing forwardly or nod.

The post. 45 extends downwardly through the opening 46 in the top wall 47 of the.

bodyframe 1F and the post normally seats on the cross wall 48 of this frame, the reduced end49 on the post extending through the wall 48 and being provided with laterally extending cam arms 50 and 51. Upon engagement with these arms of cam memi with the stop cord 53 to normally hold the,

head in natural vertical positiointhe cord 53 connecting between the neck section 12,

cold 53 will cause slight. nodding of hers to be described later the post may be raised and lowered and also rotated on its vertical axis. The spring 52 connecting between the wall 48 and the base of the head section 11 (Figs 2 and 5) co-operates and the upper wall 47 of the" body framework as clearly shown. hen the post is raised the cord 53 will prevent moiemen's of the head m a purely vertical direction. but will cause forward sw ng or nodding thereof as the pivot 45 is raised, the spring 52 re-.

journaled inthe sides of the body frame. Secured on the cam shaft are the cam disks a, Z) and 0, for co-operating respectively with the post extension 49 and the cam arms 50 and 51. "The shaft also supports the cam disks (Z, c, f, and y which cooperate with the cam levers 71,2, 7' and k all pivoted at one end on thecam lever shaft 55. Intermediate its ends each cam lever has a hump or abutment ridge 56 in the path of the cam ridge or ridges 57 on the respective cam disks. The leverh is con nected' at its free end with the cord 40 which the Below this shaft and parallel therewith is the cam lever shaft 55 also extends to the eye ball. The cord 31 connects at its lower end with the free end of the lever 2', and the cord 23 connects with the free end of lever j. The bulb 43' is supported on the frame F below the lever is so that when the associated cam disk cooperates with said lever the bulb will be contracted, its own elasticity causing it to again expand when pressure on the lever is removed; When the shaft 54 is rotated the various cam disks co-operate successively with their various levers and with the head supporting post structure and by ad justing the angular setting of the cams on the shaft and the cam projections thereon, any desired sequence or combination of operation of the head structure and its parts can be provided for. For example, theadjustment could be such that either the jaw frame or the lip would be moved first, or. they would be 'moved simultaneously, or partly simultaneously to imitate laughter, and then the eye ball rotated to imitate winking. By adjustment of the oamidisks a, b and 0 on the shaft the bowing and turn.- ing of the head may be timedas desired relative'to the mouth and eye movement. When the cam disk a engages with the post extension 49 the post will be raised and the head caused to bow, while when the cam disk I) or the disk 0 (Jo-operate respectively with the cam arms 50 and 51 the post, and the head structure will be oscillated to the left or right by proper adjustment of the cam disks. Turning of the head mayrtake place before or after raising thereof, or

while it is bowed. It is understood of course thatsuitable covering or clothing will be provided for the head and thebodyframe and the entire figure could be of bust length or full length. s A piece of leather or other flexible material58 may bridge the gap be tween the tion 12.

When a cigar or cigarette is inserted in the holder 42 smoke will be drawn into the bulb .43 when; it is expanded and will be expelled when the. bulb is pressed so that smoking will be imitated.

Any suitable means I be provided. 01 rotating the cam shaft.

s shown an electric motor M is supported on the frame F and connected by belt 59 or other means with the worm shaft 60-. As shown. this shaft has the worm 61 meshing with the worm wheel 62 secured at one end ofthe: cam shaft. i

I do not desire to be limited tothe precise construction, arrangement and voperation shown and described. as changes can no doubt be made whichwould still come within the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. In an automaton the combination of an upper jaw part, teeth,v a flexible upper jaw frame 17 and the neck seclip, a rock frame pivoted to the corners of the mouth and secured to the lip along the lower edge thereof, and means for rocking said frame to fold and unfold said lip in imitation of laughter.

2. In an automaton the combination with the head, of a foldable upper lip, a semi circular frame secured to said lip along the lower edge thereof and hinged at the corners of the mouth, and means for swinging said frame to cause folding and unfolding of said lip.

In an automaton the combination with the upper jaw, of a lip therefor of foldable material and means for folding and unfolding said lip to imitate laughter.

4:. In an automaton the combination with a fixed upper jaw part, a movable lower jaw part, a flexible upper lip, and means for moving said lower jaw part and folding said lip to cause imitation of laughter or speech.

5. In an automaton the combination with the upper jaw part, an upper lip in the form of membranous material secured at its upper edge rigidly to the upper jaw, a frame secured to the lip membrane along its lower edge, and means for raising and lowering said frame to thereby fold and unfold said lip.

6. In an automaton, the combination of a hollow head havinga slot in its front wall below the upper jaw, a lower jaw hinged at its inner end to swing vertically insaid slot, a lip membrane secured at its upper edge to the upper jaw, a frame within said head secured at its front to the lower edge of said lip membrane, means for swinging said lower jaw and means for swinging said frame to raise and fold the lip membrane.

7. In an automaton, the combination of a body frame, a head on said frame, parts of said head being movable, a cam lever shaft journaled in said frame and a plurality of cam levers thereon, actuating cords connecting said cam levers with said movable head parts, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, cam members on said cam shaft for co-operating with said cam levers, and means for driving said cam shaft.

8. In an automaton, the combination of a body part, a head, movable parts on said head, a cam lever shaft, a plurality of cam levers hinged at one end on said shaft, actuating mechanism connecting the free ends of said levers with said movable head parts, a cam shaft, cams on said shaft for co-operating with said cam levers, and means for driving said cam shaft.

9. In an automaton, the combination of a body frame, a post supported on said frame for vertical reciprocation and for axial rotation, a head secured to the top of said post, a cam shaft below said post, a cam member on said shaft for co-operating with the lower end of said post to cause reciprocation thereof, arms extending laterallyfrom said post, and cam members on said shaft for co-operating alternately with said arms to cause axial rotation of said post.

10. In an automaton, the combination of a body frame, a post vertically reciprocable on said frame, a head pivoted to the upper end of said post to swing forwardly, a stop cord connecting said frame with said head at a point in front of the pivotal connection of said head with said post, a spring connecting between said frame and head and tending to swing said head to keep said cord taut, and means for raising said post whereby said cord will cause said head to not forwardly when raised.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11 day of December, A. D. 1920.

CHARLES L. MACK. 

